Su Shu slowly rubbed her eyes open. Her body ached and the room was dark. Panic flooded her — she tried to get up, to run — but her limbs betrayed her frailty. She was trapped.
A gentle voice spoke from the dark. "Trying to run already? I like crackpots like you," Lei Yǔlín said, pushing himself up against the wall, his golden eyes shining in the dark mask.
Su Shu's eyes shot open, and she sat up, her body stopped responding. She lay back on the bed, panting.
"Why did you save me?" she'd murmured, thick tones of suspicion swarming in her voice.
Yǔlín moved in close, cool, unreadable eyes resting upon her. "Why not? It was entertaining." He tilted his head. "Now, tell me — why did you attempt to kill King Moyao?"
Only her jaw tightened, fire flashing in her eyes. "Why should I tell you?"
"Because," he said, bending so his face was close to hers, "you're in my room. And because the truth is often buried in the most inconceivable places."
Su Shu was stunned for a moment. And then the bitterness and pain of years came flooding out. "The north is suffering. People are hungry, and those who protest are muzzled. I assumed it was the king who was responsible."
Yǔlín slitted his eyes and was difficult to read. "And what gave you that idea?"
Su Shu's fists clenched. "The soldiers who chase after us, the orders they're under — it's the king's command they say they are executing. If not that, then what?"
Yǔlín's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing. Commander Xiéyàn's name hovered at the periphery of his thoughts. He controlled the north. Could he be misusing his powers in the name of royal commands?
Yǔlín straightened, his face once more composed. "Rest. You're not helpful to anyone dead."
Yulin proceed to ask by the way how should I address you , little assassin , su Shu didn't want to answer but keeping her name wouldn't do anything good for her , "she said su Shu you can address me by that"
Yǔlín simply sneered as he walked off. "Perhaps I like crazy people who try to do the impossible."
Back in the Throne Room…
Queen Lei Feng was still furious so she stalked toward as she shot a look at Kǒngyún. Prison guards stood along the walls, their faces strained and tight.
"Who else could have given the order for such a brazen attack, if not you?" she demanded. "You can get word to the palace assassins and spies."
Kǒngyún bent his head, devoted beyond all doubt. "My queen, I would not do such a thing to King Moyao. The murderers and informants of the palace are commanded by Wuji."
The queen snorted but doubt registered in her eyes. "Wuji? That weakling? He's also not from a generation or political group that could train such highly skilled assassins, I don't think he has the stomach for it, either."
Straightening, Kǒngyún eyed him coldly. "But my queen, the assassin slipped away without a trace. Whoever they are, they're trained operating.
Grumbling was heard among the guards. This left the blame at the feet of the least likely person to have orchestrated such a plan — Wuji himself.